By the way, where are the others?" I asked as we sat around the dining table. Lyra and several familia members were notably absent.
"They were on their patrol shift when the rain started, so they decided to stay over with Ardee at Ganehsa's familia home," Astraea answered.
"Aww! And here I thought we would be able to celebrate together." Alise whined, slumping at the table.
"It's fine, Alise, the real celebration is tomorrow after all," Ryuu patted her head comfortingly.
"Hm! You are right, we are going to make a bigger feast tomorrow, and all of them will get fat like little piggies! He-hem!" Alise announced, puffing out her modest chest.
"I don't think anyone will appreciate that sentiment, Captain." Said Kaguya, but Alise didn't pay her any heed and started eating her food, her cheeks puffing like a hamster.
"Someone should tell her that eating like that contradicts her point about others getting fat," I observed quietly, then turned towards Ryuu. "This is really good," I said, sampling the vegetables that she had helped prepare.
"Thank you, Arin," she replied, and I caught the pleased smile she tried to hide behind her spoon.
The meal itself was delicious, and the sound of rain outside created a cozy atmosphere as we ate and talked, sharing stories from our three days of intense work.
Alise regaled us with increasingly exaggerated tales of her haggling prowess, Kaguya corrected her embellishments with deadpan commentary, and Astraea watched over it all with maternal fondness.
After dinner, everyone helped clean up. By the time the kitchen was spotless and the dishes were done, exhaustion was beginning to catch up with all of us.
"I'm going to take a bath," I said, "You all go ahead and get some rest."
"Sure, Good night," Alise replied, followed by the others.
"Yes, good night," I said and made my way towards the bathroom. And after washing myself, I dipped in the hot water. The bathroom at Stardust Garden was one of its more luxurious features, spacious and an artificial hot spring large enough to accommodate several people at once.
The bath was blissfully hot and relaxing, washing away the lingering fatigue from three days of non-stop work. The sound of rain against the window created a soothing rhythm, and I found myself lingering longer than I'd intended, just enjoying the moment of solitude and peace. I thought about the investigation into the hidden entrance, which still loomed in the back of my mind like an unfinished chapter. I'd spotted Dix in Daedalus Street, which confirmed my suspicions. But I haven't made any plans on how to best deal with that.
On the one hand, I want to go ahead and finish him off, but I have no information about who else might be colluding with him, which makes it harder for me to make any kind of move. Ugh, I will just think about that later. I thought and decided to just relax for now.
By the time I emerged, dried and dressed in comfortable sleeping clothes, the manor had fallen quiet. The rain continued its steady percussion against the roof and windows, but inside, all was still. I made my way through the dimly lit hallways toward my room. Yes, I had a personal room in both the Stardust Garden and the Travelers Inn as well.
As I passed through the main hall, something made me pause near the large window that overlooked the garden. Maybe it was the quality of the light, the way the rain-washed world outside seemed to glow with an otherworldly luminescence. Maybe it was just the peaceful atmosphere. Whatever the reason, I found myself stopping, drawn to the view.
I stood there, one hand resting on the cool window frame, looking out at the garden washed clean by the rainwater. The plants, which during the day were a riot of colors and textures, were now rendered in shades of silver and shadow. Their leaves were heavy with accumulated rain, bending gracefully under the weight. The cobblestone paths had become little rivers, water flowing in intricate patterns toward the drainage channels.
Above, the sky was a tapestry of dark clouds occasionally illuminated by distant lightning, the thunder that followed growing quieter as the storm gradually moved away. But the rain itself showed no signs of stopping, maintaining its steady, therapeutic rhythm. Something was mesmerizing about watching it fall, about seeing the world washed clean, renewed.
"Arin?" Just then, I heard Ryuu's soft voice calling me from behind. I turned to see her standing near the gate of the main hall, her features illuminated by occasional lightning, her ocean-blue eyes reflecting the dim lamplight.
"Ryuu?" I said quietly, "I thought you'd be asleep by now."
"I couldn't sleep," she admitted. "So I decided to walk for a bit." She moved to stand beside me. Her footsteps were soft, almost silent on the wooden floor, that otherworldly grace that made her seem to glide rather than walk, as she followed my gaze out at the rain-soaked garden. The plants looked almost luminescent in the darkness, heavy with water, bending slightly under the weight of the downpour.
We stood in comfortable silence for a moment, just watching the rain. Then Ryuu spoke again, her voice soft and thoughtful. "Arin... do you like the rain?"
"Yes," I admitted. "It feels calming. And it makes everything feel... quieter. More peaceful, if that makes sense." I paused, trying to articulate the feeling properly. "It's almost like..." I put a hand to my chin as I searched for the right words, "how should I describe it... like the world is taking a breath…? Like all the noise and chaos and rush of daily life is temporarily suspended, and everything just... stops."
"That's a lovely way to describe it," Ryuu said, a small smile touching her lips. But then the smile fell, and a melancholic expression took its place, "I used to like the rain as well," she said, "before the Great Conflict happened."
Ah, right, the Great Conflict happened during rainy weather as well. Before I could say anything to reassure her, Ryuu looked up at me, that pretty smile gracing her lips again.
"But I am not going to mope about that forever, and strange as it might sound, those experiences have taught me a lot. And most definitely they'll enable me to save more people and bring justice to those who need it," she announced, "Though I still don't know what my justice is... which is probably something I shouldn't admit after such a determined speech." She looked genuinely embarrassed at her own contradiction, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
The juxtaposition of her fierce declaration followed immediately by that honest admission of uncertainty was so unexpectedly endearing that I couldn't help but laugh. Which earned a glare from Ryuu, along with a few light taps on my shoulder.
"That's not funny, Arin," she said.
"Sorry, Sorry," I quickly apologized, "it was just weirdly funny." But instead of accepting my apology like she usually did, Ryuu turned her face away with an exaggerated huff, her arms crossing over her chest.
"That was mean," she said, "Even though it was so embarrassing for me to say that."
"No, really, I am sorry, Ryuu, I won't laugh anymore," I apologized again.
"Hmph! I don't believe you!" Ryuu scoffed again.
"Ryuu, come on, I really am sorry. You were being sincere and I—"
"You laughed at me."
"I know, and that was wrong. But you have to admit, the timing was—"
"Arin." Ryuu's eyes narrowed.
"Right. Sorry. Genuinely sorry." I paused, trying a different approach, "How about I make your favorite dessert tomorrow as an apology?"
She glanced at me, her expression softening slightly. "You mean that?"
"I do."
"Fine, I forgive you," Ryuu said, though she was clearly trying not to smile. "But you owe me."
"Owe you what?"
"I haven't decided yet. But when I do, you have to comply without complaint."
"That's a dangerous blank check you're asking for," I observed.
"Then you shouldn't have laughed at me," she replied primly, though her eyes were sparkling with amusement now.
"Fair enough. I accept your terms."
"Good," She looked satisfied, then yawned slightly, covering her mouth. "I should get some sleep. Tomorrow will be busy."
"Yeah, and knowing Alise, she'll have us up at dawn."
Ryuu laughed softly. "Probably. Good night, Arin."
"Night, Ryuu."
I watched her disappear down the hallway, then shook my head with a smile. A blank check from Ryuu Lion, huh? I wonder what she will ask. Ryuu was far more mischievous than I initially thought. It makes it hard to predict what she might be thinking. Still smiling, I made my way to bed, the rain's gentle rhythm serving as a lullaby.